10th Singapore Humanitarian Conference

Mr Tan Kai Hoe, Chairman of Singapore Red Cross

Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General of Singapore Red Cross

Distinguished guests from international Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

1. It is my honour to join you today.

2. I am happy to see so many familiar faces, and I would like to send my congratulations to Singapore Red Cross (SRC) for successfully organising the 10th Singapore Humanitarian Conference.

Care and giving an integral part of the Singapore Story

3. SG60 is a milestone to celebrate how far we’ve come as a nation, and an opportunity to reflect on the collective spirit that has brought us here.

4. For those of you who come from much bigger countries, you may realise that Singapore is a small island, with a rich diversity of people from different cultures, languages and religions. To have made it work, and serve not only the people of Singapore but also the world – it’s a remarkable effort.

5. We might not live in kampongs today, but we have the same community spirit of care and giving. And that continues to shape the way we live, work, and grow together. SRC has been doing an excellent job in providing help for the needy, especially during and after the pandemic:

   1. Just last year alone, about 21,000 SRC volunteers stepped forward to serve the local and international communities.

   2. Contributing a total of 112,000 hours, they donated blood, provided first aid, as well as befriended our seniors, migrant workers, and youth, among others.

   3. And just this year, we have seen over 290,000 contributions made to Community Chest’s SGSHARE – contributions that support social service programmes to empower communities in need.

6. I must also thank all the volunteers who are here and have stepped forward to serve. That is what we would like to see moving forward, not just for our generation, but for generations to come.

Social solidarity and collective action essential to face domestic challenges

7. Many of us here will agree that we live a very volatile world, where the spirit of mutual support and collective action is even more crucial.

8. Around the world, many societies are confronting challenges such as widening inequality, rising social fault lines, economic strains from a fraying global order, and disruptions due to natural disasters, climate change, and pandemics.

9. These challenges are complex and interconnected, and no single entity can address them alone. It requires collective action across different stakeholders in society, as well as internationally.

10. Governments play an important role in tackling these challenges but it is equally crucial to harness the strengths of other stakeholders – including businesses, community, and philanthropists.

11. I am greatly encouraged by how SRC has stepped up to address some of our most pressing social issues and challenges of our time.

12. Our population is rapidly ageing – where by 2030, 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be above the age of 65, up from 1 in 6 in 2020. This is a significant change in our societal makeup, which will require our community to stay resilient, united, and come together to support our seniors.

    1. SRC’s programmes help our seniors to age with purpose and dignity, in the community.

       1. Through the tech-enabled Home Monitoring and Eldercare (HoME+) system, seniors who stay alone are able to retain their independence while being assured of their safety – that our community responders are looking out for them.

    2. Through the Community Befriending programme, isolated seniors are brought into community by volunteers who visit them.

    3. Their efforts remind us that when we act in solidarity, we can build resilience, uplift communities, and sustain the spirit of care that defines us as a nation.

13. As we navigate greater economic unpredictability, it is vital to also ensure that no one is left behind. SRC’s work to holistically uplift vulnerable families have been deeply impactful:

    1. Programmes like Meals with Love provide families with assistance for daily necessities and empower them to build financial resilience;

    2. While programmes like Young Hearts ensure children and youth from these families have access to both academic support as well as enrichment, while growing resilience and breaking cycles of vulnerability.

14. And as we build strong communities for today, we must prepare our communities for the future and tomorrow as well.

15. I am heartened to see our youths stepping forward to actively participate in programmes like Red Cross Youth (RCY).

    1. RCY empowers youths to become active changemakers in their communities, through overseas missions, hands-on training, and local humanitarian initiatives.

    2. Initiatives like Project SWIFT, allow youths to check in on seniors under SRC’s HoME+ programme and identify needs of low-income and elderly residents in rental flats for better support.

16. Through these programmes, our youth will be able to do more than just provide assistance to others. They will be able to gain greater awareness of our community and deeper understandings of social challenges that we face in Singapore.

17. In essence, collective action with strong communities is built through addressing the challenges that we face, today and tomorrow:

    1. These initiatives mobilise members of our communities to step forward as volunteers, reach out to those who might need support, and build upon them for today and the future.

Collective action to tackle global challenges

18. Collective action also requires a global perspective. Many issues countries face today are transnational in nature and require cross-border collaboration.

19. International humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are key in mobilising our communities to stand together and respond collectively during times of need.

20. Singapore might be a small country, but we are dedicated to playing our part. I again commend SRC for playing a role in rallying Singaporeans to take such collective action:

    1. Throughout the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, they have been working closely with the Egyptian Red Crescent to support affected communities, contributing close to S$1.9 million, providing relief supplies, and organising public fundraising efforts.

    2. During the Myanmar earthquake just earlier this year, SRC worked with Singaporean partners like Changi Regional Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) to coordinate relief efforts and support rebuilding and recovery projects.

    3. The strong and generous response from Singaporeans reflects the spirit of care that extends far beyond our own shores.

21. Beyond crisis response, the SRC has also been exemplary in strengthening humanitarian capabilities in the region,

    1. whether in pandemic preparedness, through the Centre of Excellence for Pandemic Preparedness, or technological innovation, through the recently launched Drone Work Group.

22. These collaborative efforts will help us to stand together and be ready for the challenges both today and tomorrow.

23. We still have much to learn, and I encourage us to listen well to our various Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues in the dialogues today as we learn, collaborate, and grow together as one global community.

Taking action today, together

24. Collaboration and learning to do better is critical, as tackling these complex challenges require a whole-of-society way of solving problems.

25. Real change begins with each of us stepping forward to contribute, working together as one large community.

26. I would encourage each of you to continue the good work you are doing, to build strong caring communities and to forge deep global collaborations.

27. I wish you a successful conference, and may you be a force for good. Thank you.